Sniffers needed

The Korean newspaper, Chosun Ilbo reported that Samsung Life Insurance has given two dogs to Cultural Heritage Administration to sniff out termites at Korean heritage sites. At a demonstration at Gyeongbok Palace, the two English Springer Spaniels successfully sniffed out eight locations infected with termites. How did they do it?

In my mind, many buildings exist in Malaysia that are old, and are prone to termite infestation. These could do with some detection. But detecting termites is no simple task. Often, by the time these termites are detected, the damage is already extensive. The owner of the property may wonder why there is an insect sound in the middle of the night, and where it comes from. But the answer is not readily apparent, because the said insects (termites) are hidden within the wood.

Interestingly, one Matt Duffy from Jeffersonville, recently interviewed by News and Tribune (online newspaper) says that it is possible to train dogs to do all sorts of things -- including, it seems, detecting termites.

Further reading is available below:

• BBC
  
• AFP

............................................................

they burrow through the night,
working without light.
most of them are blind,
but they share the same mind.

through your wooden tiles,
shall they tunnel without smile,
and beams, walls and doors,
will be gone forever more.

hail the mighty termite,
and buy insecticide!
may you find out where it hides
so you can sleep at night.

............................................................

As a final word on this topic, most experts recommend getting a professional to do a thorough job of getting rid of this eeky pest. Self-help may eventually become no help, for if termites are disturbed, they usually move from one location to another -- and there is no guarantee that the next time around, they will be as easy to locate.